MAEAP Celebrates 1000 Verifications

posted on October 17, 2011 4:00pm

Interest in Michigan’s voluntary, proactive program for
assuring effective land stewardship practices on farms is growing, announced
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) Director
Keith Creagh. The Michigan Agriculture Environmental
Assurance Program (MAEAP) is recognizing Lee Sesquicentennial Farm, in
Shiawassee County, as the 1000th verification.

"The Lee Family and all Michigan MAEAP verified
farms are a symbol of the commitment to our state’s long-term agriculture economic
success and environmental safeguarding," said Creagh. "I applaud Lee Sesquicentennial Farm for
their proactive steps in assuring effective land stewardship practices."

To become MAEAP verified, farmers must complete three
comprehensive steps which include attending an educational seminar, conducting
a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and developing and implementing an action
plan addressing potential environmental risks.
MDARD conducts an on‑farm inspection to verify program requirements related to
applicable state and federal environmental regulations, Michigan Right to Farm
guidelines, and adherence to an action plan.
When completed, the producer receives a certificate of environmental
assurance.

"It gives me a great sense of pride to be able to
say that Lee Farms is MAEAP verified. Getting to this point has been a real
educational experience. I would like to thank the staff members from the
Shiawassee Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service
for all the time and effort they have spent working with me to help identify
and address the environmental risks on our farm. It was a lot of hard work and
dedication, but knowing that my farm is environmentally sound makes it all
worthwhile," said Larry Lee.

Michigan’s Conservation Districts play an important role
in MAEAP by providing local assistance to those interested in assuring that
their farm is environmentally sound.
Michigan Conservation Districts work closely with farmers to identify
environmental risks and offer technical assistance and conservation planning to
address those risks.

MAEAP is a collaborative effort of producers, MDARD,
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Farm Bureau, commodity
organizations, Michigan State University, conservation groups, and other state
and federal agencies. More than 150
local coordinators and technical service providers are available to assist
farmers as they move through the MAEAP process toward verification.

"MSU Extension educators have been working with farmers
since the beginning of the program to make sure they are armed with all the
knowledge necessary to keep their farms environmentally sound," said Tom
Coon, director of Michigan State University Extension and co-chair of the MAEAP
advisory council. "We are proud of the progress we’ve made, and our
commitment to the program remains strong."

"Michigan Farm Bureau congratulates Lee Farms in
earning Michigan’s 1000th MAEAP verification and thanks all hard working
farmers across the state who have been MAEAP verified. These leaders have created a path for all
Michigan farmers to be recognized as protectors of our natural resources while
providing for the needs of their neighbors and the world," said Scott
Piggott, Co-chair Environmental Assurance Advisory Council.

MAEAP is a multi-year program allowing producers to meet
personal objectives while best managing both time and resources. The program encompasses three systems
designed to help producers evaluate the environmental risks of their
operation. Each system - Livestock,
Farmstead, and Cropping - examines a different aspect of a farm as each has a
different environmental impact. By
participating in all three systems, producers can comprehensively evaluate
their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks.

Lee Farms is verified farm in the Farming, Cropping and
Livestock Systems for implementing appropriate pollution prevention
practices. For more information, visit
the MAEAP Web site at www.maeap.org.